Nathan Waggoner Nwagz Location: USA Language(s):
English Member Since: April 2007 Last Updated: 13 November 2008 Portfolio Views: 22653 Chosen as Favorite: 1
I love how you see things! Us self taught are a little wackier, right?!
I don't know if you had a chance to check out some of my work at http://theispot.com
By the way I tried to upload some of my images on the CG website under my portfolio but it's not showing up. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what but it's just not happening. Maybe you know something I don't. At any rate, thanks for the email.
I'm a firm believer in encouraging and helping in any way I can. You're welcome to call me at 626.536.5810 and talk about the business and anything that 's on your mind. Being in the office working for a great deal of time can sometime get to me and if I didn't have my wife and my kids to snatch me away to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World or good Ol McDonalds I'd go crazy. Anyways, give me a howler.
If you carefully look at skin you'll notice that many elements influence its color. For example you have veins underneath which will have slight blueish purple hues and if your illustration shows a close up of an arm, a face, neck, etc consider the vascular system in that area and suggest it very subtly. Other important factors are colors in the atmosphere. sky (blue or grey, orange) will affect the color of the skin, artificial light will also affect your subject. If you can also remember as a rule of thumb to always use dark, medium and light tones. Something that really helped me is a close study of how master painters of old painted their figure, William Bouguereau, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, etc. Take a good look and you'll soon see that they used a whole lot of colors to express the human skin. I know what you'll say; "but William, these guys worked with oils and built up and glazed..." and I'll say you are right but we can achieve the same effects with Photoshop and painter. If you want to mess around a little, go ahead and scan one of bouguereau's paintings and try to replicate his way of painting. One more thing about shadows and highlights, avoid blacks and whites it will make your subject look artificial, don't be afraid to use dark blues, deep purples, marroons, and for highlights, well, very light tones of the environment. Photoshop and painter allows us the freedom to use as many layers as we want and computer painting is a very forgiving (and cheap) medium, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars in paint tubes and canvases and you can make as many mistakes as you want and start over until you get it right. Of course all I say is to be taking at face value, keeping in mind that it is what works for me and it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll do the same thing. Have fun brother, and remember to flip your painting as you go to keep the balance, it will show imperfections and help you see certain things that you would normally not notice. I hope all this help let me know how it goes.
Posted a few images on the CG site (finally) most of them you've seen on the ispot website. The only difference is that it shows on a larger format which helps for a closer look.
What are you working on, any new illustrations coming down the pipe? As for me I'm preparing for a working weekend (again) I might have mentioned the fact that I create a lot of illustrations for Harley Davidson, I have developed a relationship over the years with many dealership owners and I handle their merchandising. It's a key component of my business, the day to day grind is a bit different than what i'm showing on the CG website. At any rate give me a call or write when you have a minute.
Hi !!!
Thank you very much for nice words !!! I am I could not afford school too ! that was graphic design ... so i started by myself in 3 years ago ...
You'll be a professional if you really want ...
Cheers !!!
take care- Alex
